20 Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned, According to Experts

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If you’re eager to upgrade your home mixology game, start with what you like to drink. If you’re a whiskey buff, invest in the best bourbon for old fashioneds (we’ll open that up to the best ryes, too). It’s the same as stocking up on the best vodka for martinis and tequila or mezcal for margaritas.

The old fashioned isn’t just one of the best whiskey cocktails ever conceived. It’s also one of the first, with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. Today, it remains as popular as ever and it’s easy to understand why. The timeless assembly of aged grain spirit, sugar, a dash of bitters, and a few drops of water yields an approachable, palate-pleasing result that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Rendered with minimal effort, old fashioneds are as much a fixture of the home bar cart as it is your preferred high-minded cocktail bar. But that hardly means every example is created equal. Far from it, especially because our top pick for the Men’s Journal Spirits Awards—Old Grand Dad 114 Proof—is a high-proof hooch that’s basically a bottled old fashioned in its own right.

Why You Should Trust Me

I made countless old fashioneds using various types of American whiskey to arrive at the most informed recommendations. Each cocktail was constructed exactly as the International Bartenders Association prescribes: 45ml American whiskey, 1 sugar cube, and several dashes of bitters. (Learn how to make an old fashioned at home below.)

I also tapped some of the industry’s most talented tastemakers and mixologists to share their top picks and tips. My final list includes 20 bottles. That might sound like a lot, but in actuality I sipped through close to 100 offerings, over many weeks, to whittle it down to this elite cadre. 

And though the drink is most traditionally, umm, fashioned with bourbon, during my tireless research I found a handful of ryes—and even an American single malt—that were sensationally suited to the task at hand. I’ve broken them down by category and, in the case of the bourbons, by way of price point. What you won’t find in this roundup is Japanese whisky, Irish whiskey, Canadian whisky, or Scotch. While those choices are wonderful, an old fashioned should be made with American whiskey.

How We Choose the Best Bourbon for Old Fashioneds

Among your first considerations when choosing the best bourbon for old fashioneds ought to be its alcohol percentage, says master mixologist, spirits educator, and award-winning bartender Tiffanie Barriere, who goes by the moniker The Drinking Coach. “Personally, I enjoy a proof between 43 and 47 percent,” she tells Men’s Journal.

The rest is up to personal preference. If you like your old fashioned on the sweeter side, go for bourbon; if you want to balance out the simple syrup or sugar, opt for a spicier rye. 

Once you’ve landed on your own object of desire, it’s time to stir it up; the old fashioned is not one for shaking. 

Best Overall Bourbon for an Old Fashioned: Old Grand Dad 114  Old Grand Dad 114 earns our distinction of the best bourbon for old fashioned.

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Orange zest, cinnamon, and burnt sugar are the signature tasting notes of Old Grand Dad 114 Proof. A few drops of water and muddled sugar help dial down the heat to form a cocktail as accessible as it is memorable. “A high-proof bruiser can be great in an old fashioned,” says Aaron Goldfarb, author of Dusty Booze: In Search of Vintage Spirits. “OGD 114 fits the bill nicely,” as its rounded edges are enhanced by the addition of sugar, yet it’s sturdy enough to shine through the center of the preparation with big, bold cinnamon and spice notes. “It’s an economical pour to boot.”

Best Cheap Bourbon for an Old Fashioned: Buffalo Trace Bourbon Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

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It’s shocking that you can still find Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey on shelves for under $30 considering it’s the flagship bottling from the distillery responsible for Pappy Van Winkle. Hey, we’re not complaining—especially when stirring it against sugar and bitters, where undertones of rock candy and toffee are terrifically accentuated. It’s among our favorite cheap bourbons for old fashioneds.

Best Rye Whiskey for an Old Fashioned: WhistlePig Piggyback Rye WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye

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At 11 Tigers in Manhattan’s East Village, Sayparn Wongsak is heading up a vigorously unique cocktail program, built around Thai flavors and Japanese methods. Her Knockout Tiger cocktail exemplifies the approach; it’s an old fashioned with a Southeast Asian twist. It relies on Mekhong Thai Rum as its base, modified with a pandan-infused ya dong—essentially a vanilla-like moonshine. But when she wants to keep it classic, WhistlePig Piggyback Rye is her perennial go-to. “I love it because it’s both spicy and sweet,” she says. “That combination of oak, caramel, and vanilla makes it easier to adapt a variety of ingredients into the recipe, while still retaining the profile of the whiskey.”

More Whiskey We Love for an Old Fashioned

Jefferson’s Tropics Aged in Humidity

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Jefferson’s Tropics Aged in Humidity is a Kentucky whiskey that gives new meaning to the term “straight bourbon,” as it was aged for months at sea, passing through the Straits of Malaca. During its journey to the hot, humid climate of Singapore, it picks up a tropical, almost rum-like nose along with a lush and robust mouthfeel. It’s among the best bourbon for an old fashioned for those seeking something on the sweeter side. It makes a dessert cocktail like no other. Read our full review of Jefferson’s Tropics Aged in Humidity.

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series

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Sugar, (wood) spice, and everything nice, the Wood Finishing Series from Maker’s Mark is a testament to how staves of specially seared wood can affect flavor in a finely aged bourbon. The releases shift from year to year, but you really can’t go wrong mixing any of this juice in an old fashioned, because there’s bound to be dried berry fruit to help enhance the sophistication of a classically sweet sipper. 

Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon

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Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon is a 100-proof all-star that’s distilled from a sweet mash, as opposed to the sour mash more typically used in the bourbon category. It holds candied cherries and honey in its finish—notes you can still discern when mixed, even with a heavy-handed application of cocktail modifiers. 

Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

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Blanton’s The Original Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is more than just a beautiful spirits bottle. It’s also a frustratingly precious liquid, surrendering oak, citrus, and butterscotch in alternating turns. While it’s great for sipping, if you want a high-end bourbon for old fashioneds on a special occasion, it’s more than worthy.